Light amidst darkness

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

I would like to post an observation. Please pardon if

it is trivial.

Three weeks ago while visiting the Meenakshi shrine in

Madurai, I discovered that the free darshan line

offers a better glimpse of the Goddess than the paid

line. The free darshan line runs on an elevated

platform where it is possible to see the Goddess even

while waiting. In one such occassion while waiting on

the platform for a free darshan, there was a sudden

power failure in the entire temple. I thought for a

fraction of a moment, "will there be chaos now ?"

Well, it was far from it. In the midst of total

darkness all around, due to the already lit

traditional oil lamps near the Goddess, the Devi was

shining brightly and offering a unique sight to

everyone. No one moved from their places.

 

This gives an idea for experimentation. In our homes,

if we have the setup, to switch off all the lights

everywhere and turn on only the tiny lamps near the

image.

 

With Love,

Raghava

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

, Raghava Kaluri <raghavakaluri> wrote:

> Well, it was far from it. In the midst of total

> darkness all around, due to the already lit

> traditional oil lamps near the Goddess, the Devi was

> shining brightly and offering a unique sight to

> everyone. No one moved from their places.

>

 

I can imagine (to some extent) the beauty of this. It must have been

incredibly beautiful. Beautiful still it would be if one could

commune with HER internally.

 

Many months back, one day, early in the morning (around 4:00am) I got

up and could not sleep, I asked mentally, when will I have vision of

you? To my shock (more than surprise, as I never expected an answer),

SHE quickly answered, "when your mind is free from lust", as if SHE

was impatiently waiting for that moment. For a minute I was silent. I

did not know what to say. Then I asked HER, "How can overcome lust",

for at that moment my mind had no answer for it and I was wondering

what SHE will say. An answer flew back with no pause, "by thinking

the contrary". I could speak no more. Of course, I told this to none

expect shrI vishvarUpA, as such a revelation would put me to shame.

 

Later I found that "thinking the contrary" can be interpreted in the

light of patanjali's yoga sutra "vitarka bhaadhane pratipaxa

bhaavanam" and also in the light of "adhyaasa bhaashya" of shrii

shankara. Both are useful, latter is the best though.

 

Coming back to topic, I never left madhurai satisfied. I always

wanted to see HER more. But I used to console myself, seeing is not

in eyes, but through inner communion. Long ago, when I was an

atheist, my father got a naaDi prediction for me and which said that

I will be born again in Madurai and take a priestly profession (that

is I will not have munadane education), at that time, I ridiculed him

and the prediction, which after a while I forgot. Later after SHE

took control of me in August 91, I went again in December, I was so

unsatisfied with my dharshan, I wanted be there in HER presence. A

true feeling arose in my heart that I should be born again here and

worship you to my heart's content. Then suddenly the naaDi prediction

came back from my memory and filled me with gratitude.

 

Only thing that brings to peace to heart when agitated by the

concerns of the world is HER thoughts. Instead of holding my error

born - habit inclined -thoughts against me, may SHE by HER grace

purify me and take me back to HER. Words of my guru Swami Yogananda,

which says "wash me with the waters of thy wisdom and make me clean

again" is my fervent prayer. When I first met ammachi in 96, I

whispered my tamil translation of this prayer to Her. I hope she will

not ignore it.

 

 

Ravi